Water retention and transmission characteristics of jute growing soils of Nagaon district of Assam

Abstract

Water retention and transmission characteristics of the jute growing soils of Nagaon district, Assam were studied. The multi–location soil samples were collected from six jute–growing blocks, namely Khagorijan, Raha, Rupohi, Dhing, Laowkhowa and Juria. The soils were acidic in reaction and clay loam in texture. The Soils were enriched in organic carbon content (1.02% to 1.11%) and medium to marginally high in available nutrient contents. The characteristics of soil water retention indicated that at any given suction, the magnitude of water retention follow the order: Rupohi > Raha > Khagorijan > Dhing > Laowkhow > Juria. Available water capacity among the various soils varied in between 0.18 m3 m–3 and 0.30 m3 m–3. Wide variations among the soils were observed in unsaturated hydraulic conductivity K(θ) and water diffusivity D(θ). The K(θ) fluctuated from 0.12 × 10–11 to 0.33 × 10–3 cm min–1 whereas the soil water diffusivity among the various blocks varied in between 0.08 × 10–7 and 0.02 × 10–3 cm2 min–1. It is evident in the present study that the soils of Rupohi, Raha and Khagorijan blocks of Assam had high moisture retention and available water capacity but low K(θ) and D(θ). In rainfed condition, raising jute as well as other crops is possible in the soils of Rupohi, Raha and Khagorijan blocks of Nagaon district if the crop and time of its sowing are properly selected. Proper moisture conservation practices should be adopted for growing rabi crop in the soils of Dhing, Laowkhow and Juria blocks of Nagaon district as they had medium moisture retentivity and available water and relatively high K(θ) and D(θ).